Glimpse into the future as Godmanchester Rovers start county cup defence in style

The sight of the Godmanchester Rovers team-sheet last night briefly raised the expectations of those who love nothing more than seeing a giantkilling.

The Hunts Senior Cup holders rested a host of senior players when launching their defence of the county trophy with a 5-0 victory against St Neots Town Saints.

Four members of the club’s youth team - goalkeeper Mitchell Leggett, midfield pair Sam Brooks and Chris Hartley, and wideman Ashley Hehir - were handed starting places at senior level. Another three - James Osborne, Farris Alston and Ryan Wood – would later arrive from the bench.

But it quickly became clear that Clements got it spot on as Rovers toyed with their lower-level visitors (themselves an Under 21 side and not at full-strength) before putting them to the sword in the second period at the David Wilson Homes Ground.

Ben Yeomans made the only breakthrough of the opening period after 14 minutes although Austen Diaper left the crossbar shaking for seven seconds when thundering a 25-yard drive against it.

Goddy stepped up a gear after the interval with a quickfire scoring salvo sealing their passage into the semi-finals.

Tom Spark triggered a spell of four goals in the space of 10 minutes when sending a 20-yard blast over Saints keeper Scott Davies.

Yeomans completed his hat-trick by striking twice in the space of three minutes – nodding in a Spark corner before rifling home a Diaper cut-back – before Hehir looped a rather fortunate fifth over the stranded Davies.